A Question I Can't Answer

[Bob_Koch]

I received this question in the mail today and was hoping someone could help me with an answer. I've never had this question before. Can anyone help?

"I hope you can help me. l am owner from Germany. The pickup is a 1952, 3B3, (I'm think he means B3B) 3 speed manual. For approval in Germany, i am looking for a confirmation of an authorized top speed."

[pflaming]

Change the word to "suggested or normal operating speed) and the answer is around 50 mph on level terrain. "top speed" is when the engine blows up!

[TodFitch]

Many years ago on, I think, the first version of the P15-D24 forum, GTK posted that Dodge trucks were sometimes fitted with a governor that limited the engine RPM to 3200. Take the mounted tire diameter and the rear end ratio the truck has and convert that RPM to a speed.

[48Dodger]

Since every gear/ tire combination can't be listed...the factory posts redline engine RPMs.

Its thier way of saying..."you do the math"

 

48D

[Bob_Koch]

Since every gear/ tire combination can't be listed...the factory posts redline engine RPMs.

Its thier way of saying..."you do the math"

 

48D

Do we know what the redline is?

[Dodgeb4ya]

Just tell them 60MPH. Thats pushing a pilot house truck to the max. It might go faster but the engine won't like it and the life of it will not be long.

Or show them this....

Edited June 3, 2013 by Dodgeb4ya

[Plymouthy Adams]

a flattie powering a stationary generator would be run at 3600 rpm based on producing a clean 60 Hz power....as the max HP is also rated at that rpm once would well assume that is the mx sustained rpm and it is also that of the lowly single piston flat head B&S engine...now finding this in print anywhere for these old engines ins going to be a rough find I am thinking.  My modern V6 is redlined at 6500...it is computer shifted at 6200 under WOT...however cruise at 75MPH is a lowly 2250 RPM..unlike a modern car these cars are not well insulated or sound deadened to any degree so they begin to sound busy quick..the old style motor mount compared to my later cars with hydraulic mounting...yeah lots of noise and road feel transferred to your butt when driving...I do drive my 54 at 70-75...plenty of pedal and power left on tap..it begins sounding busy at about 80  I have run at most only so 45 minutes t these speed on a sustained run as that is as far north I go to the big towns..

Edited June 3, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[Young Ed]

The HP and RPM should be stated right on the serial number plate for his truck.

[48Dodger]

The stated RPM is for Max HP....not redline. Most plates say 3600 for Max HP. Torque is what makes your sled move, HP is the engines ability to replenish the demand of the cylinders. All Dyno Graphs show HP and Torque crossing at 5250 RPMs. Peak Hp and Engine torque will tell you where your best power is, but without the rest of the vehicle (power to weight ratio) you dont know what your top speed will be. Transmission/Axle gearing and Tire size would help...but....our trucks came with a lot of options (weight), it would be hard for the factory to say "your top speed will be...". But by stating the redline (the moment your engine is in physical or structural danger, risking failure)  one could dyno the vehicle for Max HP/ Max Torque/ Max speed. You need this info (redline) so your dyno guy doesn't have to tell you what it is after it blows up. Personally I've heard that most stock gearing for the 1/2 tons puts them at 3200 rpms for 65mph......I image the L6 could push 6000 RPMs (ka-boom) but the Torque would be so low that the gearing would have to be greatly chaged to take advantage of any horse power left. So my big guess would be 3600 RPMs/ 70 Mph........empty, stock 1/2 ton with 4:11's/ 28" tires /assuming redline @4000 plus. 

 

48D

[Don Coatney]

I wonder why the German government is interested in the speed of the vehicle? Are vehicle registrations priced on speed? Are there speed restrictions on some roads that state a vehicle must go XX fast to drive on that road?

 

Or did the clerk simply look at the vehicle and say "wow, now fast will that go?"

[Bob_Koch]

Just tell them 60MPH. Thats pushing a pilot house truck to the max. It might go faster but the engine won't like it and the life of it will not be long.

Or show them this....

Where is this published?

[Dodgeb4ya]

It's from the Dodge Truck master Sales manual-1951-2.

[greg g]

There might be a different liscence plate for vehicles restricted from Autobahn operation due to a too low maximum speed. But they sell Trabants and Wartburgs overthere so I'm sure there are slower things on the road than an old Pilot House.  Ftom the wiki autobahn page;

 

Vehicles with a top speed less than 60 km/h (such as quads, low-end microcars, and agricultural/construction equipment) and motorcycles or scooters with low engine capacity regardless of top speed (mainly applicable to mopeds which are typically limited to 25 or 45 km/h anyway), are not allowed to use the autobahn

[48Dodger]

....... Are there speed restrictions on some roads that state a vehicle must go XX fast to drive on that road?

 

Yes.....minium speed for his truck would have to be over 37 mph.

If he is looking for factory documentation that his truck reaches speeds

above that, so he can be "authorized" to enter the autobahn, he may not find it from the U.S.

A lot of American made cars and trucks were left after WW2, I would have to believe Germany has the info in its data banks about his truck already.

 

After all, Christine (from Germany) stopped by my house and bought parts for her B-1-B before going home. She said there "many" Dodge trucks there.

 

48D

Edited June 4, 2013 by 48dodger

[Scruffy49]

Hmm, according to the 3 speed chart, I know why my truck's original engine grenaded back in the late 50s or early 60s... and why the replacement 218 sounds like it will explode at 50mph. Gotta love gearing that will let a half ton yank a house off its foundation, but not let the truck get out of its own way...

[Bob_Koch]

For those wondering about needing the top speed in order to register a truck in Germany here is what their DMV requires:

 

"For info, in Germany you need: the speed rating, length, width, height, weight, total weight, cubikinch, horsepower, exhaust emission, number off seats, lights, tire size (for tacho deviation), warning blinker, warning triangle, first aid kit, etc.
The data is available in a database costs 150 €.
Yeah sure I can maths but I do not know the gearbox / diff ratio.
In order to drive on motorways vehicles must drive at least 37 miles.
Germany is not so easy"

 

.

And we thought our state motor vehicle departments were horrible!

[Dodgeb4ya]

I'll stay over here in the states!

[55 Fargo]

State 90 kmh, but as mentioned above, top speed with stock diff gearing is more likely a comfortable 80 kmh, and cruising at 90 kmh is okay with taller bigger tries perhaps.....

[52b3b]

Just tell them 60MPH. Thats pushing a pilot house truck to the max. It might go faster but the engine won't like it and the life of it will not be long.

Or show them this....

Hallo and thank you. Until a few days i cannot open the file. Now i be a member and that are the thing i need. At wendsday i will have the vehicle-authorization-test and this will make it much easier. Many thanks from germany. Klaus